High Temperatures Prompt Early Sugaring

02/22/02 12:00AM

(Host) Temperatures reached past 50 degrees today in southern Vermont and at least for the moment, the sap is flowing.

Several maple sugarers in central and southern portions of the state are already boiling their sap into maple syrup, thanks to the season's quirky and warm weather, and light snow cover. The sap isn't flowing everywhere and some sugarers haven't even put in their taps.

Cold weather is forecast to return over the weekend, which may push the regular start of the full maple season to its more traditional March time period.